Oshiomhole Exposes Akpabio Over NNPC’s ₦210 Trillion Saga, Questions Daughter’s Appointment
Senator Adams Oshiomhole has accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of having a personal interest in the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), alleging that Akpabio’s daughter secured a lucrative position in the company through the influence of former Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari.
The former Edo State governor made the claims during an appearance on the Mic On Podcast hosted by Seun Okinbaloye, where he defended his stance on the Senate Committee on Public Accounts’ investigation into NNPCL and the issuance of a bench warrant against Kyari.
Oshiomhole said his comments regarding the oil company were personal opinions and not official resolutions of the Senate. However, he maintained that nepotism had become deeply entrenched within the national oil company.
According to him, Akpabio personally acknowledged that his daughter was employed by NNPCL under circumstances that allegedly bypassed normal recruitment procedures.
“Myself inclusive. The second is my response to the former chief financial controller of NNPC, whose tenure the investigation covers, who pointedly said to the committee that it is you people. And now I know that the Senate President said his daughter was taken by Mele Kyari and put in a, well as Nigerians we say, in a juicy position that he probably didn’t merit,” Oshiomhole said.
The senator further alleged that NNPCL had evolved into an institution dominated by family connections, with influential figures securing jobs for relatives.
“You guys have turned NNPC into a traditional institution where the son inherits the throne of the father. Past leaders of NNPC have employed their children, uncles, cousins and in-laws into various aspects of NNPC and placed them in different positions.
“If they carry out the payroll of NNPC, you will find that they have turned the top level into a family business,” he alleged.
Oshiomhole clarified that he was not opposed to relatives of public officials being employed by NNPCL, provided recruitment followed due process and merit-based standards.
“Are the children of senators not Nigerians? The issue arises only if they are given jobs they did not merit or qualify for, and if the proper procedures were not followed.
“Well, somebody told me that the Senate President’s daughter was employed not through a regular interview process, but that is his own problem. That is not the reason I will sit there and allow somebody to accuse me,” he said.
Addressing reports that the Senate had distanced itself from the bench warrant issued against Kyari, Oshiomhole insisted that the action was within the constitutional powers of the legislature.
“So how can the Senate disown what they did? I spoke as a person, and if somebody thinks I have injured his reputation, there are legal means,” he said.
He also referenced previous remarks attributed to Akpabio regarding the authority of Senate committees, arguing that committee chairmen exercise powers delegated by the Senate leadership.
According to Oshiomhole, the Senate has the constitutional authority to issue warrants in the course of investigations and should not shy away from exercising such powers.
“We have the right to issue a bench warrant. The Senate President may choose not to exercise that power, but he cannot declare constitutional provisions irrelevant, nor can he lecture senators about procedures,” he said.
The comments come days after a heated session of the Senate Committee on Public Accounts, during which Oshiomhole strongly criticised NNPCL while supporting a motion seeking Kyari’s arrest over allegations that trillions of naira could not be accounted for during his tenure.
During the session, Oshiomhole dismissed claims that the company’s reputation was the reason many Nigerians sought employment there.
“NNPC has no reputation. Your reputation is for fraud,” he said.
He further argued that many people sought jobs in the organisation because they believed it had become a source of illicit enrichment.
“People want their children to be employed there because it is a house of thieves, and they want their children to benefit from it,” he said.
The senator maintained that the committee must uphold its constitutional responsibility and ensure accountability, regardless of the status of those involved.
“There are some people who see themselves as bigger than Nigeria because of the way institutions have been run. The law is only effective when it catches a lion, not just a rat or rabbit,” he stated.
Calling for immediate action against Kyari, Oshiomhole urged the committee to deploy its constitutional powers.
“This country must have the courage and the will to deploy its powers as provided in the Constitution and issue a warrant today, not tomorrow, and bring Mele Kyari before the committee,” he said.
He argued that allegations involving trillions of naira in unaccounted funds required urgent scrutiny, especially at a time when the country continues to rely on borrowing to finance public expenditure.
“There are serious issues raised by competent auditors, not by laymen, and they deserve answers,” Oshiomhole added.
